Two and a half years' frustration on tour but Dhoni sees improvement

Two-and-a-half years' frustration on tour, but Dhoni sees improvement

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India left New Zealand still seeking an overseas Test victory after more than two-and-a-half years' frustration on tour.

New Zealand won the Test series 1-0 on Tuesday after the second match at the Basin Reserve, highlighted by captain Brendon McCullum's triple century, ended in a draw.

India have not won a Test overseas since June 2011, when they beat West Indies in the first match in Jamaica and clinched the series after the next two games were drawn.

They have since lost nine and drawn two of their 11 overseas matches, and, with a team in transition after the retirement of greats Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, are struggling to find consistency on foreign shores.

'There were instances where we could have capitalized but we failed'

The visitors did not win a single game on their shortened tour of New Zealand, losing the five-match One-day series 4-0, with one game tied, and while they had chances to win both Tests were unable to take their opportunities.

"There were instances where we could have capitalised on the kind of start we got, or if we had a good partnership in the middle, but we failed to do that," Dhoni said.

Image: India's players celebrate a dismissal during the second Test against New ZealandPhotographs: Anthony Phelps/Reuters

'Unable to string the performances together'

"We saw a glimpse of that in the Test match here [Wellington], and the last Test also in the second innings we bowled fantastically to come back into the series.

"Then when we were batting I felt we had a good partnership going then we lost wickets at the wrong time and that put pressure back on ourselves."

Of the four innings, India's bowlers played well in two and their batsmen performed well in two. Unfortunately for their passionate supporters who created a carnival atmosphere at both games, they were unable to string the performances together in the same match.

Image: Virat Kohli on his way to his sixth Test hundred on Day 5 of the second TestPhotographs: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images